The Strong Resolve to Fight. I've got proof.

Some of you may know my bud, Lenny, from his love of racoons or the sincere comments he leaves on everyone's blogs. But since the start of my contest a couple weeks back, this little dude, and his wonderful family (I'm talking to you, big brother Alex!) have made quite the impression on me, and my family's heart.

As some of you may know, there's always more to the blogger than what meets the eye. Of course, Lenny's World suits him perfectly, but there's some things you wouldn't know by reading, about this insanely infectious ten-year-old (eleven in October). Lenny was diagnosed with ALL, which stands for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

He's been through the gamut from losing his parents to chemo and radiation, and he now blogs/writes/socializes/melts hearts per doctor's orders, with the support of his devoted family (and a BIG family it is!). From the many graphics to contest donations, (the Lee family gathered and contributed $100 to Joy 2 the World), they're a bunch to be admired, and so full of love. I could not be more lucky to know them and today, a closer look inside Lenny's World.

What is your favorite thing to read?
For books i like adventure stories, animal stories and sci fi. for magazines i like nature and animal stuff. i got a subscription to ranger rick for a present and i love it. i like comic books too.

What do you do for fun? 
Wow, im doing lots! i love doing stuff outdoors that i couldnt do for a long time. i swim a lot and thats my favorite thing. im part fish for sure. ha ha. for the first time im playing baseball and i love it but i gotta say im not so good at it and in one game i struck out 4 times in a row! ugh! i felt lots better after i got a big pecan pie blizzard at dairy queen. J i do wii games at my cousins house and i love going to the movies.

I know you love raccoons (me too!), but what other animals are your favorites?
Yep, raccoons are my favorites for sure and one time we had a pet one named rowdy. she was soooo smart. mostly i like all animals. on our deck we feed lots of animals at the critter café that my brother andrew built. i like squirrels and possums are cool looking. most people dont like possums much but i think theyre neat. theres one that comes up on the deck and eats cookies right out of your hand. we call her blossom, so shes blossom the possum. ha ha. theres a couple of flying squirrels and a big owl that eat at the café. and theres lots of raccoons and one mom with 3 little kits. in the day theres lots of squirrels birds and chipmunks. for indoors dogs rule! i love cats too and theyd rule right up there with dogs if they didnt make me sneeze and itch.

How did you get started writing?
One of my doctors got me started. she said maybe it could help me to not think about being sick. i tried it and i found out it was something i really love doing. my first big story was from an idea that came from one of my doctors and me talking about sharks. its called shark fins and its about me and a bunch of my fish and sea creature friends trying to save a shark named shak from getting unfinned and tossed back in the sea to drown just to make soup.

Are you working on anything right now? 
I'm doing a lot of changes on my first for real book that i finished. its called bloopers magic wings and its about a little dragonfly named blooper that wants magic wings cause hes a lousy flyer. my wip (i just learned what that means from writers blogs J) is called the forever forest. its called that because if you get lost in it you get lost forever. yikes! thats pretty scary isnt it. its a neat adventure story.

Who do you look up to?
I got a lot of people i look up to but mostly its my brother alex cause after dad was dead for so long and then mom died even though it was real hard for him he kept everyone of us together and kept us living like a family just like when mom was here. when i got sick again he was always right there. all of my brothers and my sister are there for me and i gotta admit im pretty spoiled. ha ha. im soooo lucky.

What do you do to feel better when you feel down?
I got a cool idea one day and made a book called lennys feel good book and its got lots of pictures of people i love and people i like and animals and anything that makes me feel good. its in a binder so i can take stuff out and put stuff in if i want to. i cut out pictures from magazines and get pictures and cartoons printed off the computer. i drew pictures and colored pictures and wrote stuff and put it in the book. you can put whatever makes you feel good and happy in the book. when i feel down i just sit and look at all the stuff in my feel good book and it makes me feel lots better. sometimes i listen to music and theres a cd i got called reggae for kids and all the songs are happy songs. i like to sing along with it sometimes. reeses peanut butter cups make me feel pretty good too. ha ha.

Do you have a favorite song or tv show?
I like music a lot. sometimes i make up silly songs. my favorite song is three little birds. its a neat song and i like the beat and the words “dont worry bout a thing cause every little thing gonna be alright.” my brother s j sang it to me a lot the last time i was sick. on tv i watch sports and i like animal planet and the sci fi channel. theres one i been watching called cash cab and its a trivia game in a taxi cab and its fun and you can learn a lot from it. i like trivia stuff.

What advice can you give to someone who wants to start a blog?
My doctor got me blogging so i could meet up with writers and share stuff and learn from other bloggers. so for someone who wants to start a blog they should know who they want to get to know cause theres a zillion blogs out there and you could get lost for sure. they should make their blog look like just who they are put stuff on it that they really like. they dont have to be with just one special group if they just want to blog with lots of different people cause theres lots of cool blogs out there and you can get lots of new friends. i got a bunch of them and theyre all really nice. blogging is sooooo much fun!

Thank you, Lenny, for letting us get to know the supercool person behind the comments. We all  love you and send SUPERSIZED HUGS for you and your family! 

Tomorrow, WINNERS from the I Heart Joy Like BR80 Contest revealed, and I will continue to sell shirts as long as possible. If you haven't gotten yours yet, GET AFTER IT!

Graphic of the day, by my girl, Sheri Larsen:

Until then, friends, go visit Lenny's blog and give it some love. 

Candyland. OUT.